On news, home rule and patriotism
Editor: As I hear the current political discourse of my neighbors and think of the upcoming national holiday, I have found myself asking the question: is it unpatriotic to think of the health of Lodi before thinking of the health of the nation?
Historically, there are certain ideas and symbols that have become so partisan in the minds of Americans that sometimes a slight alteration to the aforementioned brings quick judgments and impulse reactions. This is often illustrated by the conversations of proper treatment of the flag, bald eagles, gun rights and rights of the unborn. Similarly, this idea seems unpatriotic.
What if the local news is actually more pertinent than the national news? What if we have become so distracted by the country at large that we have lost sight of our own neighborhoods or town? Could we be so invested in the fight against “Obamacare” or the president’s latest Twitter remarks that it has actually paralyzed and blinded us to the needs of our neighbors?
Most Lodians do not have the power to change national legislation on job creation, but most do have the ability to reach out to their neighbor and offer a hand when needed. Many locals do not have all the answers when it comes to immigration policy, but do have the ability to make Lodi a welcoming place to all races, ethnicities and religions. Could we be vulnerable to the national headlines coloring our local action, and if so, could that make us less effective in solving problems?
Let’s not blame the media, as they only supply demand. A more productive action would be to recognize our abilities to transform Lodi into the kind of place we hope the nation can replicate — to lead by example, not as an act of animosity.
It’s not that Pericles was wrong in his belief that caring about politics was a duty of all citizens, but that we have tipped the scale too far to the federal level of government and forgotten about the local. Federalism is only beautiful when each level of government functions fully.
JONATHAN SOLÍS Lodi